SHIEN's first national service user involvement conference took place on Wednesday 31st March 2010 at RSAMD Glasgow. The day was attended by over 100 delegates made up of service users, managers, policy makers, frontline staff and students from a range of organisations from across Scotland.
The theme of the conference was 'Involving the Easiest to Exclude'. Afternoon workshops focused on engagement with traditionally 'harest to reach' groups; you can access the best practice suggestions generated through discussion of practitioners here.
There were some inspirational moments from the day...
- Inspiration PowerPoint - Stephanie Plotnikoff
- Personal Perspective on Service User Involvement speech - Gavin Lawson
- Digital Heroes Award - Wallace Blake
- Comments recorded on evaluation forms and talking walls throughout the day
Throughout the day people shared some inspiring activities:
- A yearbook in which all of the project’s service user involvement activities were recorded centrally for all to look at.
- Service users in one project created a photo book, to show how things can be better when moving on.
- Service users developed and scripted a training DVD, about compromising and rules and regulations.
- One group said that they found all service user involvement activities (like residents meetings) were better attended when they were attached to something fun or interesting like cooking classes, bingo or a quiz.
- Service users spoke on a CD about how staff can make them feel, and this was used in training for new staff.
- Short term stay residents in temporary accommodation got involved with developing a newsletter for the service; all involvement was welcome from updating on service development to sharing stories, poetry and recipes. The group were involved in development of the newsletter and editing.
- It was interesting to note that during 5 separate discussions services users reported that the most inspiring activities they had been involved in were projects aimed at helping people or raising money to help people. This included service users:
- Developing a peer research programme to pro-actively address issues with addictions policies.
- Building schools in Malaysia.
- Developing a plan to hold a car wash to raise money for victims of Haiti.
SHIEN would like to thank the many organisations and individuals who helped in the organising of the event, and who participated on the day, helping make the event a success and hugely enjoyable.
THANK YOU.
